Girdles



April 5, 1955 J. L. KLEINMAN INVENTOR.

United States Patent GIRDLES Jacob L. Kleinman, Arverne, N. Y.

Application May 8, 1952, Serial No. 286,740

Claims. (Cl. 2-38) This invention relates to garment construction and more particularly to a type of a garment wherein the size of the width of such garment may be changed and adjusted to suit particular requirements at certain occasions without restoring to the distortion of the shape of the garment or to undoing of seams or to sewing.

This application is filed as a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 551,808, filed zgugilgtsziitl, 1944, now Patent No. 2,596,155, dated May My novel construction is capable of being utilized in connection with various styles or types of garments, but particularly with the type, for example, forming body supporters, corsets, health belts, girdles, hosiery supporter belts, foundation garments, undergarments, brassieres, or any combination of the aforementioned garments.

In accordance with my invention, I produce a garment provided with a plurality of rows of slidable fastening elements, manipulated in such a manner whereby the size of the width of the garment, or part thereof, may be adjusted by moving the lock of the slide fasteners in one direction or another, and with means for covering such lock, and with inverted pockets for housing removably mounted garters or hosiery supporters.

There is, therefore, thus produced, in accordance with my invention, a garment, capable of adjustability without resorting to sewing, or undoing of seams, a matter which is a dilficult task to most persons not trained in the art of sewing, and with inverted pockets to conceal the connection of the garters to the garment.

To illustrate the ordinary commercial utility of my novel garment in daily life, a garment constructed in accordance with my invention, of whatever style or type it may be made, could be utilized to great advantage, the fact that this garment could be adjusted to suit the requirements of the wearer at various occasions, without distortion, would render great comfort and satisfaction to such wearer to an extent whereby such garment would become an indispensable wardrobe item, and thus quite valuable to the trade commercially.

Particularly would such be the case with gardles if made in accordance with my invention. It is a known fact that girdles are usually made to fit tightly around the wearers body, and the wearer can not release such snug fitness of the girdle without distortion. It often happens, upon certain occasions, for example, when relaxation is desired, or during mealtime or thereafter, that such snug fitness of the girdle around the body becomes uncomfortable, particularly so at the abdominal region; in which case the only thing the wearer can do is to unhook or to open the girdle. To do so would cause the girdle to bulge out thereby distorting the wearers appearance, and cause her embrarrassment, particularly when in the presence of others; a woman therefore has no alternative and must continue in such discomfort while wearing the girdle. But if such girdle would be made in accordance with my invention, all the wearer would have to do would be to reach for the zipper-lock on the girdle and move same downwardly, thereby opening the zippers and adding to the size of the width of the girdle, thus providing the desired relief and comfort to the wearer without any distortion and embarrassment, as the moving of the zipper-lock could be accomplished quickly and unnoticeably. On the other hand, if desired, a swift movement of the zipper-lock upwardly will close the zippers, thereby reducing the size of the width of the girdle and pull-in or compress the abdominal region of the wearers body, thus adding additional slenderness to the wearers figure.

The same is true with respect to the covers for the slidable lock, for example, it is a well-known fact that the handle of the lock of the slide fasteners must always be in a normal (hang-down) position for the lock to stay in a locked manner, if the handle is lifted from its normal position (upwardly) then the lock becomes unlocked and is apt to move out of desired position, separating the slide fasteners from each other. Such an occurrence would of course be quite annoying to the wearer, especially to women whose upper garment usually engages the lock handle of the slide fasteners during the movements of the wearers body while walking or dancing, which occasionally causes such handle to move out of normal position unlocking and moving the slidable lock out of desired position. The embarrassment caused at times through such occurrence is naturally very objectionable.

It is quite obvious that my invention completely eliminates the above-mentioned objectionable features. The lock cover, as apparent, is holding the handle in a downward position thereby preventing the unlocking and displacement of the slidable lock and in addition thereto also acts as a partition between the matallic lock and handle and the material of the wearers upper garment, thus protecting such garment against possible damage which may be caused by the frictional rubbing of such lock or handle against the garment material during movement of the wearers body while walking or dancmg.

The same is also true with respect to my abovementioned inverted pocket. The fact that the connection of the garter to the garment is performed] entirely within the inverted pocket, and that such inverted pocket conceals such connection, will prevent direct contact between the matallic buckle and the skin of the wearers body and also between such metallic buckle and the wearers upper garments, thereby preventing possible damage to such garments which may be caused by the frictional rubbing of such metallic buckle against the garment material during movements of the wearers body while walking or dancing.

Thus a garment made in accordance with my invention may be worn with great comfort, as it can be easily adjusted to suit the wearers requirements at various occasions, and can be utilized to great advantage. It is believed that such a garment will prove quite valuable commercially.

The variety of possible applications of my novel construction in connection with different articles of apparel, as hereinabove indicated, is to prolific that for the purpose of illustrating the invention the specific embodiment of my invention in its application to a garment exhibiting the greatest ditficulties has been selected. Such a garment is one which necessarily must conform most rigidly to the body contours and one which has the field of greatest possible commercial use. For this purpose I have selected for illustration of my novel construction, a garment constituted of a girdle body, so that the principles of construction may be best illustrated in a garment known as a girdle.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference is had to the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing individual sets of slide fasteners secured to the full length of the girdle body in a spaced apart relation with respect to each other;

Fig. 2 is a view of the same girdle as in Fig. 1, showing the slide fasteners in interlocked or closed position;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the open sets of the slide fasteners being shorter in size than the length of the girdle;

Fig. 4 is a view of the same girdle as that of Fig. 3, showing the fastening elements in closed position, affecting only the abdominal region of the wearers body;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the slide fasteners in both, open and closed position, also showing the engaging means for the garter, the lock cover and the inverted pocket;

Fig. 6 is a view showing a portion of the girdle body with the inverted pocket partly broken away showing the position of the assembled garter buckle and engaging means within the inverted pocket;

Fig. 7 is a view showing the buckle and garter; and

Fig. 8 is a view of the removable cover for the slidable lock.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which similar reference characters identify similar parts in the several views, in my novel adjustable garment.

Numeral 11 indicates the body of a garment. In this instance, for illustrative purposes, the garment is shown in the form of a girdle. The body 11 comprises a front portion and a rear portion 16 and is provided with an upper end section 15 and with a lower end section 16. The body 11 is at desirable locations provided with sets of suitable fastening elements, for example, the zipper type as indicated by arrow F (Fig. 1). Each of the sets comprises two separable rows of fastening elements 12 and 13 positioned at, approximately, a vertical line between the upper end section 15' and the lower end section 16'. For illustrative purposes these sets arrow F are shown being located at each side of the vertical medial line of the front of the girdle, naturally it being understood that the number of sets or location upon the body is optional with the manufacturer. These sets arrow F may be of any desirable style, but preferably of the closed style wherein the end portions are closed 01' joined to each other by closure means 2. Each set is provided with a slidable lock 14 for locking the rows 12 and 13 to each other and also for unlocking and separating such rows from each other. These locks 14 are each provided with a handle or finger grip for moving such lock 14 into desired position.

For clarification purposes the following may be pointed out:

It is a well known fact that women because of their desire to attain as slender a figure as possible usually have their girdles fit snugly to the body. But occasionally a womans girdle may stretch a bit, such a thing would of course annoy her greatly as it may distort her slender appearance, and that may cause her to discard her girdle, although such girdle may yet be in a perfectly good wearable condition. If only she could take-in that extra fullness of her stretched girdle, then it would solve her problem. But in such a case it would mean that she would have to resort to alterations, sewing of seams; and not many women are trained to do alterations on garments, particularly where careful sewing and fitting is required in order not to distort the shape of the garment. In such a case, a women has no other alternative than that of either going to the extra expense of having her girdle altered and readjusted by a tradesman, or to purchase a new girdle.

Applicants present invention solves such a difficult problem completely and in a very simple and unique manner; namely, by merely moving the zipper-lock 14 in one direction, for example, upwardly (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), such extra fullness of the stretched" girdle, for example 17, would then be taken-in swiftly and quite easily without resorting to sewing of seams, thereby eliminating irritation, loss of time, annoyance and saving unnecessary expense to the wearer. Furthermore, should it be desired to bring the girdle body back to its original size, it can easily be done so by simply moving the zipperlock 14 to the opposite direction, for example, downwardly. It is naturally understood that by moving the lock 14 upwardly, the rows 12 and 13 will interlock with each other as indicated by arrow D, folding the material 17; whereas by moving the lock 14 downwardly, the rows 12 and 13 will become unlocked and separated from each other as indicated by arrow F. Furthermore, it is understood that the sets of fastening elements running vertically the full length of the girdle (Figs. 1 and 2) may be so positioned as to permit the circumferential adjustment of the width throughout the full length of the girdle body. Thus the size of the girdle can be adjusted or changed very easily and quickly to smaller or larger size in width at any time without resorting to sewing or undoing of seams, thereby eliminating distortion of the wearers appearance.

It may well happen that the wearer, after having taken in that extra fullness of the girdle, is partaking of a meal and finds that her girdle is becoming uncomfortable causing undue pressure upon the abdomen of the wearer; such wearer does not have to open her girdle and distort her entire dress appearance (as is the case with the present type of girdles) to obtain desired relief. All the wearer has to do is to move the lock 14 into desired direction and the girdle will expand in width affording the desired relief without distorting the wearers dress appearance. After a while the wearer can, by moving lock 14 into opposite direction, again take in that extra fullness and obtain that slender dress appearance.

If desired the sets arrow F may be of a shorter size or positioned in a manner, for example, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, wherein the rows 12' and 13' extend from the upper end of the girdle to slightly below the center thereof to accomplish the same or similar purpose as hereinbefore described.

It will be noted that in Fig. 5 I have shown the girdle having a slight roll 19 at its upper end so as to eliminate a certain type of binding which is common in certain types of girdles.

If desired the girdle body 15 may be made normally with the rows of fastening elements 12" and 13" in a closed position (Fig. 5) having a stretchable or resilient material secured thereto underneath such fastening elements, so that when relief is desired the moving of lock 14 into desired direction will separate elements 12" and 13" from each other permitting such stretchable material to stretch as at 18 and provide the desired relief. After a while such lock 14 may be moved into opposite direction interlocking rows 12" and 13" With each other permitting the stretchable material to assume its original f1o7r)m, eliminating the above-mentioned fold (material It is naturally understood that the fastening elements may be secured to the garment body in any desirable manner; for example, they may be secured to the outer face of the garment body, or the garment body may be provided with a slit (or slot) having longitudinal side or edge portions facing each other and the fastening elements may be secured to such longitudinal side portions in any suitable or desirable manner, and the portion of the expansion section or material indicated by numeral 17 may comprise a separate element which may be secured to such side portions underneath the fastening elements by suitable means, for example such as stitchings, and in a manner enabling the wearer to easily operate such fastening elements from the exterior of the garment; or the garment body or portions thereof may be made of any suitable or desirable material, for example, cotton, silk, plastic, elastic, rayon, wool, or a combination of materials; the same is true with respect to the separate element 17, the disclosures herein are for illustrative purposes only and not for limitation purposes.

The garter 29 may be secured to the girdle in any suitable manner, but preferably in a manner as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein my inverted pocket P is so constructed as to conceal the connection of the garter to the girdle and prevent contact between the connecting buckle and the wearers skin and also between such buckle and the wearers garments.

For illustrative purposes I show the following structure: A strip of material In provided with a central opening 25 is folded to form a loop 24" and is secured by stitchings 24 to the body portion 15. The member 20 is then placed over the loop 24 and secured to the body 15 by suitable means, for example, stitchings 21 leaving the bottom end portion free from the body 15 so as to form an inverted pocket P. If desired member 20 may be made to be detachably secured to the body 15 by means of snap fasteners 21 attached adjacent to the outer edges or corners of the member 20 and to the body 15. In practice, the female portions 22 of the snap fasteners 21 will be applied to the garment or girdle while the male portions 23 would be applied to the removable member 20, so that upon removal of the member 20 there will be no protrusions beyond the outer face of the garment. It may be noted that in this form of structure the member 20 also covers the lock 14 thereby preventing accidental lifting of the finger grip and movements of such lock 14.

If desired the member 20 may be sewn on to the body 15 by stitchings 20 providing a flap portion 20" which is provided with the male portions 23, and the body 15 may be provided with the female portions 22 adapted to receive the male portions 23 of the flap 20", thus providing a cover for the lock 14 to prevent accidental movement of such lock 14 and forming a partition between the lock 14 and the wearers garment, thereby preventing possible damage that may occur by frictional rubbing of the lock against such garment (Fig.

The pockets P at the right side of the garment are shown in closed normal form, whereas at the left side these pockets P are shown in an open or partly broken away manner to show the position of the loop member 24. Naturally, these pockets P may be formed either at the inner or outer face of the garment. .2

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the buckle 26, which may be formed of metal, plastic or like material, is substantially rectangular in shape. This buckle 26 lS provided with a projection or tooth member 27 approximately centrally located and with sloping floors 28. The upper portion of the buckle 26 is provided with depending flange portions 30 directed inwardly to either side of the central projection 27, and the upper inner roof portions 31 slope downwardly towards the flange portions 30. The top portion of the garter 29 is provided with an opening 32. This top portion is placed through the buckle 26 in a manner whereby the projection 27 is positioned within the opening 32. Such top portion is then bent over forming a flap 33 which is secured to the garter body by suitable means, for example, stitchings 34. The projection 27 and the sloping floor 28 will hold the garter 29 centrally located within the buckle 26. For connecting the garter to the loop member 24 it is required to place the lower end portion of the loop member 24 through the space 35 of the buckle 26 and place the flange portions 30 within the opening 25 of the loop member 24. The flange portions 30 and the sloping roof portions 31 will hold the loop member 24 centrally located within the buckle 26. ;It will be noted that projection 27 and flange portions,30 are'so arranged with respect to each other that the loop member 24 will not detach itself from the buckle 26.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the various details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

I claim: i

l. A garment comprising a constricting body enclosing portion, said garment having an upper open end section and a lower open end section, a pair of opposing spaced apart complementary rows of fastening elements, said garment having a substantially ovate elongated expansion section positioned between the said upper and lower end sections, the said rows of fasteners being secured to the opposed side end portions of the said expansion section for substantially the full lengths of said expansion section, means movable in one direction for interlocking the said spaced rows of fastening elements to reduce the girth of said body portion and to cause a fold of the material of the said expansion section therebetween, said means being movable in the other direction to unlock and separate said opposing rows of fasteners from each other to release said fold and increase the girth of said body portion in the circumferential zone in which the expansion section is located, said upper and lower end sections retaining substantially their normal length during the operation of said means 1n either direction.

2. A garment comprising a constricting body encircling portion, said garment having an upper open end section and a lower open end section, said garment having an expansion section, said expansion section having converging upper and lower side portions, a pair of opposing spaced apart complementary rows of fastening elements carried by said body portion in approximately a vertical direction between said upper and lower end sections, one of said rows located adjacent to one of the side portions of said expansion section and the other of said rows located adjacent the opposite side portion of said expansion section, means movable in one direction for interlocking said spaced rows of fastening elements with each other to reduce the girth of said body portion and to cause a fold of the material of the said expansion section, said means being movable in the other direction to unlock and separate said opposing rows of fasteners from each other to release said fold and increase the girth of said body portion in the circumferential zone in which the expansion section is Iocated, said upper and lower end sections retaining substantially their normal length during the operation of said means in either direction.

3. A garment comprising a constricting body encircling portion, said garment having an upper open end section and a lower open end section, a pair of opposing spaced apart complementary rows of fastening elements carried by said body portion in approximately a vertical direction between said upper and lower end sections, said rows being normally positioned in spaced relation with respect to each other having their upper end portions converging towards each other and also having their lower end portions converging towards each other, an expansion section located between said spaced rows of fastening elements, movable means, said means movable towards one direction for interlocking said spaced rows of fastening elements with each other to cause a fold of the material of said expansion section for reducing the girth of the said body portion, said means being movable towards the opposite direction to unlock and separate said opposing rows of fastening elements from each other to release said fold and increase the girth of said body portion in the circumferential zone in which said expansion section is located, said upper and lower end sections retaining their normal circumferential length during the operation of said means in either direction.

4. A garment comprising a constricting body encircling portion, said garment having an. upper open end section and a lower open end section, a pair of opposing rows of fastening elements having upper and lower closed end portions, said rows secured to said body portion in approximately a vertical direction with; respect to said upper and lower end sections having the center portions of said rows spaced away from each other, an expansion section located between said two rows of fastening elements, a locking member carried by said rows of fastening elements, said locking member movable towards one direction for interlocking said center portions with each other to cause a fold of the materialof said expansion section for reducing the girth of the said body portion in the circumferential zone in which the expansion section is located, said locking means movabletowards the opposite direction to unlock and separate said center portions of said opposing rows of fastening elements from each other to release said fold and increase the girth of said body portion in the said zone, said upper and lower end sections retaining their normal circumferential length during the operation of said locking member-in either direction.

5. A garment comprising a constricting body encircling portion, said garment having an upper open end section and a lower open end section, a pair of opposing rows of fastening elements, said rows being separable from each other, said body portion having a resilient expansion section located in approximately a vertical direction between said upper and lower end sections, said rows of fastening elements located upon the exterior of said resilient expansion section and held thereto in interlocked position for holding said resilient expansion section in a normal unstretchable manner, slidable means carried by said rows, said means slidable towards one direction to unlock and separate said rows from each other to enable said resilient expansion section to stretch and increase the girth of said body portion in the circumferential zone in which the said resilient expansion section is located, said means being slidable towards the opposite direction to interlock said rows of fastening elements with each other to enable said stretched resilient expansion section to revert back to said normal unstretched position for reducing the girth of said body portion in the said zone, said upper and lower end sections retaining their normal circumferential length during the operation of said slidable means in either direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 605,108 Lindsay June 7, 1898 883,475 Ortwell Mar. 31, 1908 1,220,925 Zabriskie Mar. 27, 1917 1,502,481 Newman et al. July 22, 1924 1,753,996 Millman Apr. 8, 1930 1,816,656 Schweizer July 28, 1931 (Other references on following page) 7 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,172 Green et a1. Feb. 22, 1938 2,286,186 Kahn June 16, 1942 1,840,302 Barnowitz Jan. 12, 1932 2,303,060 Moench Nov. 24, 1942 1,855,144 Hazelton Apr. 19, 1932 2,363,368 Stone Nov. 21, 1944 1,885,379 Roller Nov. 1, 1932 5 2,379,815 McFarlane July 3, 1945 1,996,626 Robinson -2 Apr. 2, 1935 2,505,242 Herbener Apr. 25, 1950 2,084,593 Pickens June 22, 1937 2,580,314 Nehrenz Dec. 25, 1951 

